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Goals for the Major

The French Department expects linguistic competence of its majors at graduation; students should be able to express themselves with a considerable degree of sophistication and near-native accuracy both orally and in writing. They should also be able to conduct rigorous in-depth research using primary as well as secondary sources on both literary and cultural topics.

The two required courses in the major are French 211 (or for students entering in 2014 or later, French 210), which develops students' literary analysis and writing skills in the context of an intensive grammar review, and French 308, which focuses on translation and stylistics.

All majors are expected to take at least one culture course (or spend a semester studying in a French-speaking country) and to take at least one literature course, no matter what the primary focus of their major.

During her senior year, each major is expected to take at least one 300-level course other than 308 as a capstone experience to further develop her linguistic and analytic skills.

Requirements for the Major

FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103 and FREN 201 count toward the degree but not toward the French major. The language courses FREN 202, FREN 203, FREN 205, FREN 206, FREN 211 and FREN 226 count toward the French Major. Courses taught in English do not count toward the minimum requirement for the major in French.

Majors are required to complete a minimum of eight units, including the following courses or their equivalents: FREN 211 (or for students entering in 2014 or later, FREN 210), which develops students’ literary analysis and writing skills in the context of an intensive grammar review and FREN 308, which focuses on translation and stylistics.

The goals of a coherent program are: (a) oral and written linguistic competence; (b) acquisition of basic techniques of reading and interpreting texts; and (c) a general understanding of the history of French literature and culture.

All majors must take two 300-level French courses at Wellesley College, at least one of which must be during their senior year. FREN 350, 360 and 370 do not count towards the minimum requirement of two 300-level courses for the major. No more than two courses taken credit/noncredit at Wellesley College may be applied to the French major. Students planning to major in French should consult with the chair of the French department.

FREN101-102, 103 count towards the degree but not the major. Students who begin with FREN 101-102 in college and who plan to study abroad should consult the chair of the department during the second semester of their first year. Majors are required to complete a minimum of eight units, including the following courses or their equivalents: FREN 211, which develops students’ literary analysis and writing skills in the context of an intensive grammar review and 308, which focuses on translation and stylistics. The goals of a coherent program are: (a) oral and written linguistic competence; (b) acquisition of basic techniques of reading and interpreting texts; and (c) a general understanding of the history of French literature and culture. FREN232, which is taught in English, does not count for the minimum major in French. All majors must take at least one culture course (FREN 206, 207, 225, 229, 237, 332, 349) or spend one semester studying in a francophone country, and at least one literature course (FREN208, 209, 210, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 223, 224, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306,307, 313, 317, 318, 319, 327, 329, 330, 333 or an appropriate literature course in French taken abroad). All majors must take two 300-level French courses at Wellesley College, at least one of which must be during their senior year. FREN350, 360 and 370 do not count towards the minimum requirement of two 300-level courses for the major. No more than two courses taken credit/noncredit at Wellesley College may be applied to the French major. Students planning to major in French should consult with the chair of the French department.